Search Results (78)

Feed and water scarcity are major challenges for the sustainability of livestock production, particularly in semi-arid regions with structural limitations in resource availability. In this context, the valorization of agro-industrial by-products contributes to circular agriculture, reduces waste, and promotes more efficient resource use, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study evaluated the inclusion of partial mixed tomato residue (PMR) silage in sheep diets and its effects on productive performance, total water intake, and meat quality. Eighteen ewe lambs were assigned to two groups: control (concentrate and deferred pasture) and PMR (tomato residue silage and deferred pasture). The PMR silage had a pH of 3.97 and was mainly characterized by lactic and acetic acids, with minor amounts of propionic and butyric acids. The butyric acid concentration (8.9 g kg⁻¹ DM) slightly exceeded the recommended threshold (0.5% DM), suggesting some clostridial activity but remaining below levels associated with severe deterioration. Animals fed PMR silage showed a 36% higher dry matter intake (p = 0.001), with greater intake of total digestible nutrients and fiber. This translated into a 54% higher average daily gain (p = 0.02) and an 11% greater final body weight compared with the control group (p = 0.02). Dietary water intake was also higher in the PMR group, reducing direct water consumption from drinkers by 38% (p < 0.001). Meat quality parameters were unaffected by the diet. Pesticide residue screening by LC-MS/MS revealed no detectable levels of abamectin, cymoxanil, chlorothalonil, difenoconazole, or mancozeb in silage. In meat samples, only chlorothalonil was tested and it was not detected. However, the use of PMR silage increased direct energy demand due to transport and compaction, while feeding costs per unit of weight gain were reduced. Overall, PMR silage proved to be a safe, fermentatively stable, and effective feeding alternative that enhances performance, reduces direct water intake, and maintains meat quality, representing a viable strategy for small ruminant production in water-limited regions. Full article

This article presents an integrated assessment of pasture ecosystem degradation under conditions of extreme aridity in the Atyrau Region, where high livestock density, limited grazing capacity, and institutional fragmentation of land tenure exacerbate degradation risks. The study aimed to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of pasture conditions and identify critical load zones to support sustainable management strategies. The methodology was based on a multi-factor Anthropogenic Load (AL) model integrating (1) calculation of pasture load (PL) using 2023 agricultural statistics with livestock numbers converted into livestock units; (2) spatial analysis of grazing concentration through Kernel Density Estimation in ArcGIS 10.8; (3) assessment of infrastructural accessibility (Accessibility Index, A_i); and (4) quantitative evaluation of institutional land use organization (Institutional Index, I_i). This integrative approach enabled the identification of stable, transitional, and critically overloaded zones and provided a cartographic basis for sustainable management. Results revealed persistent degradation hotspots within 3–5 km of water sources and settlements, while up to 40% of productive pastures remain excluded from use. The proposed AL model demonstrated high reproducibility and applicability for environmental monitoring and regional land use planning in arid regions of Central Asia. Full article

Modern agricultural practices increasingly threaten soil quality, prompting growing interest in organic farming as a sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the effects of organic management on soil fertility and quality in comparison to conventional and undisturbed systems, focusing on fertile Chernozem and less favorable Stagnosol soils. A minimum data set of indicators was used, including bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stock, hot water extractable organic carbon (HWOC), and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase and urease). An integrative statistical framework (blocked ANOVA and PCA) was applied to examine interactions between soil properties and different management practices, while Pearson’s correlations were employed to explore relationships within the organic system. Organic management improved soil quality in two soils, with pronounced benefits in Stagnosol, even after 5–10 years. Conventional production systems exhibited lower biological activity, poorer chemical properties, and higher BD. Long-term organic management (>10 years) in Chernozem enhanced soil quality levels approaching those of undisturbed pasture, while medium-term organic systems showed transitional characteristics. Sensitive indicators such as BD, SOC and HWOC detected early changes in Chernozem, with enzyme activities providing additional insight in Stagnosol. However, SOC stock did not differ significantly between organic and conventional systems due to BD influence. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of organic farming practices, especially for less fertile soils, and support the use of integrated indicators for soil quality assessment. Full article

By 2023, deforestation in the Cerrado biome surpassed 50% of its original area, primarily due to the conversion of native vegetation to pasture and agricultural land. In addition to anthropogenic pressure, climate change has intensified hydrological stress by reducing precipitation and decreasing river flows, thereby threatening water security, quality, and availability in that biome. The Annual Water Yield (AWY) model from the InVEST platform provides a tool to assess ecosystem services by estimating the balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET). In this study, we applied the AWY model to the Urucuia River Basin, analyzing water yield trends from 1991 to 2020. We evaluated climate variables, land use dynamics, and river discharge data and validated the model validation using observed stream flow data. Although the model exhibited low performance in simulating observed streamflow (NSE = −0.14), scenario analyses under reduced precipitation and increased evapotranspiration (ET) revealed consistent water yield responses to climatic variability, supporting the model’s heuristic value for assessing the relative impacts of land use and climate change. The effects of deforestation on estimated water yield were limited, as land use changes resulted in only moderate shifts in basin-wide ET. This was primarily due to the offsetting effects of land conversion: while the replacement of savannas with pasture reduced ET, the expansion of agricultural areas increased it, leading to a net balancing effect. Nevertheless, other ecosystem services—such as water quality, soil erosion, and hydrological regulation—may have been affected, threatening long-term regional sustainability. Trend analysis showed a significant decline in river discharge, likely driven by the expansion of irrigated agriculture, particularly center pivot systems, despite the absence of significant trends in precipitation or ET. Full article

In the arid and semi-arid climate of Southern Kazakhstan, groundwater is the primary and most resilient source of water for pasture irrigation. This study provides an integrated assessment of the predicted, natural, and operational groundwater resources across five administrative regions—Almaty, Zhetysu, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan—considering water quality (total dissolved solids, TDS), potential well yield, and aquifer depth. Hydrogeological maps at 1:200,000 and 1:1,000,000 scales, a regional well inventory, and GIS-based spatial analysis were combined to classify resource availability and identify surplus and deficit zones. Results show that 92.5% of predicted exploitable resources (totaling 1155.2 m³/s) have TDS ≤ 3 g/L, making them suitable for domestic and livestock use. Regional disparities are pronounced: Zhetysu, Almaty, and Zhambyl exhibit resource surpluses, Kyzylorda approaches balance, while Turkestan faces a marked deficit. The developed groundwater availability map integrates mineralization, well productivity, and recommended drilling depth, enabling the design of water intake systems without costly field exploration. This decision-support tool has practical value for optimizing water allocation, reducing operational costs, and improving the sustainability of pasture management under the constraints of limited surface water resources. Full article

Throughout history, humans have modified the environment, transforming natural biomes into agricultural areas. In the 1990s, economic policies accelerated the expansion of agricultural frontiers in Brazil, including the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba regions. This study analyzes rainfall variability from 1990 to 2021 and its relationship with land use. For this purpose, satellite data from MapBiomas, ERA5, and NASA POWER were processed using Google Earth Engine and QGIS. Statistical methods included the Spearman correlation and the Mann–Kendall trend test. The results revealed that average annual precipitation decreased from 1663.35 mm in 1991 to 1128.94 mm in 2022—a 32.14% reduction. Simultaneously, agricultural and urban areas increased by 365% and 237.59%, respectively. Spearman analysis showed negative correlations between precipitation and agriculture (ρ = −0.51) and urbanization (ρ = −0.51), and positive correlations with pasture (ρ = +0.52) and water bodies (ρ = +0.46). These trends suggest that land use intensification significantly affects regional rainfall patterns. Unlike studies focusing mainly on Amazon deforestation, this research emphasizes the Cerrado biome’s climatic vulnerability. The use of long-term, high-resolution remote sensing data allows a robust analysis of land use impacts. By highlighting a clear link between land transformation and precipitation decline, this study offers insights for policymaking aimed at balancing agricultural development and water resource preservation. This research underscores the importance of sustainable land management practices, such as agroecology, reforestation, and ecological corridors, for regional climate resilience. Full article

To accurately assess the water quality, ecosystem status, distribution of large benthic organisms, and ecological restoration under human intervention, an analysis of benthic organisms on Caofeidian in September and November 2023 and January and May of the following year was conducted in this work. By performing CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) and cluster and correlation coefficient (Pearson) analyses, the temporal variation characteristics of benthic abundance, dominant species, community structure and biodiversity were analyzed. A total of 79 species of macro-benthic animals were found in four months, including 32 species of polychaetes, cnidarians, 1 species of Nemertean, 19 species of crustaceans, and 24 species of molluscs. The use of conventional grab-type mud collectors revealed that the Musculus senhousei dominated the survey (Y > 0.02). While only a small number of Ruditapes philippinarum were collected from bottom-dwelling species, a certain number of bottom-dwelling species (Ruditapes philippinarum and Scapharca subcrenata) were also collected during the trawl survey. Additionally, a significant population of Rapana venosa was found in the area. It is speculated that the dual effects of predation and competition are likely the primary reasons for the relatively low abundance of bottom-dwelling species. The density and biomass of macro-benthos were consistent over time, which was the highest in May, the second highest in January, and the lowest in September and November. The main environmental factors affecting the large benthic communities in the surveyed sea areas were pH, DO, NO₂⁻-N, T, SAL and PO₄³⁻-P. Combined with historical data, it was found that although the environmental condition in the Caofeidian sea area has improved, the Musculus senhousei has been dominant. In addition, the abundance of other species is much less than that of the Musculus senhousei, and the diversity of the benthic community is still reduced. Our work provides valuable data support for the management and improvement of bottom Marine pasture and promotes the transformation of Marine resources from resource plunder to a sustainable resource. Full article

Century-long land-use practices have a profound impact on soil physical and chemical properties, with direct implications for soil health and agricultural sustainability. This study aimed to assess the effects of four contrasting land uses—remnant vegetation, pasture, cultivated areas, and loafing areas—on the physical and chemical properties of Red Ferrosols in the Toowoomba region, Queensland, Australia. Soil samples were collected from upper and lower slope positions for each land use. Physical properties, including bulk density, porosity, water retention, and permeability, as well as chemical properties such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, were analysed. The results showed that remnant vegetation preserved the most favourable soil conditions, with lower bulk density, higher porosity, and greater water retention. Cultivated areas exhibited significant soil degradation, marked by compaction, reduced infiltration, and depleted organic matter. Loafing areas displayed localised nutrient enrichment but higher compaction due to livestock trampling. Pastures maintained intermediate conditions, retaining some beneficial soil characteristics. These findings emphasise the critical need for sustainable land management strategies to protect soil structure and function, supporting the long-term productivity and resilience of Red Ferrosols. Full article

Flow regulation and water quality maintenance are considered ecosystem services, as they provide environmental benefits with a measurable economic value to society. Distributed or semi-distributed hydrological models can help identify where land use decisions yield the greatest economic and environmental returns related to water resources. For these reasons, this study integrated simulations performed with the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model under varying land use conditions, aiming to balance potential benefits with the loss of ecosystem services. Among the tested parameters, those associated with surface runoff showed the highest sensitivity in simulating streamflow for the Jundiaí River Basin. Based on the statistical indicators R², Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NS), and Percent Bias (PBIAS), the SWAT model demonstrated a reliable performance in replicating observed streamflows on a monthly scale, even with limited spatially distributed input data. Scenario 2, which involved converting 15% of pasture/agricultural land into forest, yielded the most favorable hydrological outcomes by increasing soil water infiltration and aquifer recharge while reducing surface runoff and sediment yield. These findings highlight the value of reforestation and land use planning as effective strategies for improving watershed hydrological performance and ensuring long-term water sustainability. Full article

Rural settlements in agro-pastoral ecotones reflect the complex interplay between natural constraints and human land use, particularly in ecologically sensitive and climatically transitional regions. This study investigated the agro-pastoral ecotone of eastern Inner Mongolia, a representative region characterized by environmental heterogeneity and competing land use functions. Landscape pattern indices, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were employed to analyze settlement morphology and its environmental determinants. The results reveal a distinct east–west spatial gradient: settlements are larger and more concentrated in low-elevation plains with favorable hydrothermal conditions, whereas those in mountainous and pastoral areas are smaller, sparser, and more fragmented. OLS regression revealed a strong positive correlation between arable land and settlement density (r > 0.8), whereas elevation and slope were significantly negatively correlated. GWR results further highlight spatial non-stationarity in the influence of key environmental factors. Average annual temperature generally shows a positive influence on settlement density, particularly in the central and eastern agricultural areas. In contrast, forest cover is predominantly negative, especially in the Greater Khingan Mountains. Proximity to water resources consistently enhances settlement density, although the magnitude of this effect varies across regions. Based on spatial characteristics and land use structure, rural settlements were categorized into four types: alpine pastoral, agro-pastoral transitional, river valley agricultural, and forest ecological. This study provides empirical evidence that natural factors (topography, climate, and hydrology) and land use variables (farmland, pasture, and woodland) collectively shape rural settlement patterns in transitional landscapes. The findings offer methodological and practical insights for targeted land management and sustainable rural development in agro-pastoral regions under ecological and socioeconomic pressures. Full article

Understanding how land use and climate change jointly affect water availability is essential for sustainable planning in tropical Andean–Amazonian basins. This study focuses on the Utcubamba River Basin in northeastern Peru, a data-scarce and socioecologically strategic watershed where land transformation and climate variability converge. A multi-temporal land use/land cover (LULC) analysis (1990–2024) was conducted, coupled with hydrological modeling using the SWAT model under historical and future climate scenarios (SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5), including the spatial overlay of the LULC change concentration with key hydrological indicators. LULC classifications revealed forest loss and the expansion of pasture, agriculture, and shrubland areas, particularly in the upper basin. Hydrological projections showed significant changes in water flow, including reductions in minimum monthly flows by up to 73.9% and increases in peak flows by 14.8% under the SSP5–8.5 scenario. The water balance is expected to shift, with increased percolation and reduced lateral flow, suggesting decreased storage capacity. By identifying critical sub-basins where land degradation and water insecurity converge, the study supports adaptive strategies for land restoration, aquifer recharge planning, and ecosystem conservation. Despite limited hydrological infrastructure, the SWAT model effectively simulated water dynamics, aiding climate resilience and water security efforts in the Amazonian Andes. Full article

Livestock production systems can negatively affect soil structure, resulting in negative changes in physical–hydraulic properties, compromising soil functioning and productivity. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of rotational silvopastoral systems on soil physical–hydraulic functioning in their second year of implementation. The study was performed under Oxisol soil with a loamy sand texture in Southeast Brazil. We considered four grazing systems: an intensive silvopastoral system with Panicum maximum in consortium with Leucaena leucocephala (ISPS + L), an intensive silvopastoral system with Panicum maximum in consortium with Tithonia diversifolia (ISPS + T), an silvopastoral system with Panicum maximum (SPS) with tree row (TRs), and open pasture under a rotational grazing system with Panicum maximum (OP). The treatments ISPS + L, ISPS + T, and SPS had tree rows (TRs) every 20 m composed of Khaya ivorenses, Leucaena leucocephala, Eucalyptus urograndis, Acacia mangium, and Gliricidia sepium. Nine physical–hydraulic indicators were evaluated in the first 0.40 m of depth: bulk density (Bd), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (MaP), microporosity (MiP), field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), available water content (AWC), total soil aeration capacity (ACt), and S-index. The soil physical–hydraulic properties were sensitive to the effects of the livestock systems. The use of silvopastoral systems in consortium with grass (ISPS + L and ISPS + T) allowed for better soil water retention, resulting in higher FC and AWC than the OP, SPS, and TR. The indicators Bd, ACt, MaP, FC, MiP, and S-index presented the greatest variance; however, FC, ACt, MaP, and MiP enabled the greatest differentiation among systems. Therefore, these properties are important in studies on soil physical quality since they provide information about the soil porous status and its ability to retain water and exchange soil air and gases. Therefore, enhancing the physical–hydraulic attributes of the soil in silvopastoral systems with shrub species is crucial for ensuring long-term productive sustainability and strengthening environmental resilience against future climate challenges. Full article

Mixed sowing of forage grass can reduce soil erosion, improving forage nutritional composition, enhancing grassland productivity, and increasing community stability. It addresses issues faced by sown pasture, including a lack of diversity in planting patterns, low resource utilization efficiency, and poor sustainability. However, the effects of mixed sowing on forage yield and water use efficiency (WUE) vary depending on regional environmental conditions, management practices, and temporal factors. Based on publicly available field experiment data, this study utilized meta-analysis to quantitatively examine the effects of mixed sowing on forage yield and WUE in China. Additionally, a random forest model was employed to analyze the main influencing factors. The results showed that, compared with monoculture, mixed sowing significantly improved forage yield and WUE, with average increases of 58.3% (confidence interval: 44.3–72.3%) and 32.0% (confidence interval: 19.2–44.8%), respectively. Regarding yield, the effect of mixed sowing was the most pronounced in Shaanxi. Optimal conditions included experiments conducted during 2006–2008, annual precipitation of 200–600 mm, soil pH of 4−5, average annual temperature of 10–15 °C, altitudes below 2000 m, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Bromus inermis as the forage combination, two species in the mixture, a legume-to-grass species ratio of 1:1, a total seeding rate of 40–50 kg·ha⁻¹, and mixed sowing in the same row. For WUE, significant effects were observed in Gansu under the following conditions: experiments conducted during 2018–2020, annual precipitation of 400–600 mm, an average annual temperature of 5–10 °C, a soil pH of 8–9, altitudes of 1000–2000 m, oats (Avena sativa) and peas (Pisum sativum) as the forage combination, two species in the mixture, a legume-to-grass species ratio of 1:1, a total seeding rate of <50 kg·ha⁻¹, and mixed sowing in alternate rows. The random forest model indicated that the effects of mixed sowing on forage yield were primarily influenced by annual precipitation, average annual temperature, and experimental region. In contrast, the effects on WUE were mainly determined by forage combination, species type, and the legume-to-grass species ratio. This study provides a reference for enhancing alfalfa productivity and achieving efficient water use. Full article

Kazakhstan’s pasture, as a spatially extended agricultural resource for sustainable animal husbandry, requires effective monitoring with connected rational uses. Ranking number nine globally in terms of land size, Kazakhstan, with an area of about three million square km, requires proper assessment technologies for climate change and anthropogenic impact to track the pasture lands’ degradation. Remote sensing (RS)-based adaptive approaches for assessing pasture load, combined with field cross-checking of pastures, have been applied to evaluate the quality of vegetation cover, economic potential, service function, regenerative capacity, pasture productivity, and changes in plant species composition for five pilot regions in Kazakhstan. The current stages of these efforts are presented in this project report. The pasture lands in five regions, including Pavlodar (8,340,064 ha), North Kazakhstan (2,871,248 ha), Akmola (5,783,503 ha), Kostanay (11,762,318 ha), Karaganda (19,709,128 ha), and Ulytau (18,260,865 ha), were evaluated. Combined RS data were processed and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction of Vegetation Cover (FCover), Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), Canopy Chlorophyll Content (CCC), and Canopy Water Content (CWC) indices were determined, in relation to the herbage of pastures and their growth and development, for field biophysical analysis. The highest values of LAI, FCOVER, and FARAR were recorded in the Akmola region, with index values of 18.5, 126.42, and 53.9, and the North Kazakhstan region, with index values of 17.89, 143.45, and 57.91, respectively. The massive 2024 spring floods, which occurred in the Akmola, North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, and Karaganda regions, caused many problems, particularly to civil constructions and buildings; however, these same floods had a very positive impact on pasture areas as they increased soil moisture. Further detailed investigations are ongoing to update the flood zones, wetlands, and swamp areas. The mapping of proper flood zones is required in Kazakhstan for pasture activities, rather than civil building construction. The related sustainable permissible grazing husbandry pasture loads are required to develop also. Recommendations for these preparation efforts are in the works. Full article

The increasing variability of climatic conditions poses significant challenges for agricultural and livestock systems worldwide. In regions with warm climates, such as northern Colombia, the effects of changing temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration are particularly pronounced, influencing the productivity and sustainability of native pastures. To address these challenges, modeling tools provide a valuable means of understanding and predicting forage production dynamics under diverse climatic scenarios, enabling farmers to make informed decisions that enhance resilience and sustainability. This research was conducted in Córdoba, Colombia, with the objective of evaluating the impact of climatic variations in temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration on forage production in native pastures in hot climates in northern Colombia. Modeling tools were used to assess the potential yield of pastures based on climate conditions, enabling the understanding and addressing of challenges associated with climatic fluctuations in estimated production. To plan animal grazing, climate variability from 2018 to 2021, a period influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, was analyzed. This type of integrated analysis, which combines meteorological data, soil, crops, and evaluation of animal load per unit area, is an ideal and practical approach to addressing productivity challenges associated with climatic variability in livestock production in the warm climate of Colombia. The results confirmed the significant impact of climatic conditions on forage production, leading to the conclusion that simulation tools for water use in Bothriochloa “Colosuana” pastures are relevant for efficient water resource management, particularly during the dry season and drought events. This allows for anticipating the impacts of climate change on agriculture and livestock, facilitating timely and sustainable decision-making by farmers. Full article